Novelty Socks Are Fashion’s Newest Necessity for 2016

The holidays have come and gone, and that leaves us—where, exactly? Figuring out what to do with all of those stocking stuffers, for one. First up, let’s consider the random bunches of novelty socks that you received. Are you actually supposed to wear those marijuana leaf–printed knee socks your 15-year-old-cousin gave you? Or the pink pair stamped with cartoon cats from your sister-in-law? And what about the nubby knit pair with snowflakes from Grandma? Historically, novelty socks were the ugly Christmas sweater of the feet, possessing a level of spoof that should be neither seen nor heard, despite their tendency to get pretty loud. They were something to be worn at home, alone, with a pair of decidedly unsexy pajamas, a last resort on laundry day when your no-show pair went mysteriously missing. But that was then: These days, a white pair of athletic socks is so ho-hum it’s practically comatose. These days, if you don’t own—and regularly rock—a novelty sock, what the heck are you wearing on your feet? Take it from Rihanna, universally adored fashion maverick, staunch Stance supporter, sometime creative director, and no stranger to the decorated toe warmer, who is just as likely to wear a fluff-trimmed pair with pumps and a matching pink Fendi frock as a lace-frill-adorned pum pum sock with an open-toe sandal.

Yes, that’s right: Colorful and cheekily emblazoned socks may have once seemed solely the terrain of science teachers and grown-up preps seeking to add a dash of quirk underneath their pressed trousers and polished monk straps courtesy of an outré stripe or funky stitch, but now it’s anybody’s game. Novelty socks have become so popular that companies such as Stance are now major fashion players, raising millions of dollars and garnering all sorts of celebrity backing, from Jay Z’s Roc Nation to fashion-forward NBA players like Dwyane Wade. And even lesser-known purveyors like the Portland-based Sock It to Me (tagline: “Be awesome, wear awesome”) have their own dedicated following: “I was tired of wearing plain black socks to work,” reads one comment on the Sock It to Me site. “I enjoy being different and wearing stuff that really sticks out.” And they aren’t alone in wanting to stand out: Sock It to Me’s press materials state that 94 percent of its customers are shopping for themselves, fully ruling out the gag-gift scenario.

So get with the program and let loose below the ankle—let that freak flag fly in 2016! The Vogue.com office has: Photo Researcher Bardia Zeinali opts for humor in his socks, whether it’s a trompe l’oeil sandal version (toe ring included) or a Starbucks logo. “I prefer to wear my novelty socks with my fur Gucci loafers, especially a graphic sock that adds some humor to the already wacky kangaroo fur-lined footwear,” says Zeinali. “If it’s a sneaker, I’ll pair with a cropped pant or jean so there is a good amount of exposed sock to add some interesting pattern or color to my usual monochromatic look.” Market Editor Kelly Connor tends to opt for a cleaner pattern, leaving her marijuana leaf–printed pair at home. “I just got these Henrik Vibskov ones that I am obsessed with,” she says, and she’s been pulling them up high and pairing them with brogues and cropped Dickies. "I love how you see the word Finish in the front!” says Connor. “They give any outfit a sense of humor.” Fashion News Editor Alessandra Codinha rotates a steady pair of off-kilter prints from Stance through her day-to-day wardrobe, favoring patterns like a navy and white bandana print, an indigo tie-dye, or a gray pair with tropical beaded trim. “When the cropped pant came into my life, it left a lasting impression—and a swathe of visibility between my ankle boots and my trouser hems,” says Codinha. “A glimpse of a fun sock makes that gap look more intentional than awkward. Plus, who wants to take socks too seriously?” And really, isn’t having a bit of fun just the way to get this year off on the right foot?